Chapter 41: Karma's A Bitch

I lifted my hands in the air as I stood at the edge of the summoning circle. The rich smell of incense filled my nostrils. I hoped it was enough to attract Karma to me.

"I, Alaina Grey, summon the great and mighty Karma. Force of Nature, Goddess of will, fate, and knowledge. I offer up these items in trade for a blessed karma upon me. Please, I beseech you, grant me your presence."

As I spoke, I leaked power into my words. I could feel it entering the circle. The circle lit with a purple glow. The light turned into a purple cloud that swirled into the center. I couldn't believe it, but it was working. Either I had done something really right or Karma was as bored as shit.

The purple cloud solidified into a curvy form. A tanned-skinned dark-haired beauty stepped forth. She wore a golden dress that clung to her form and draped about her with sashes of cloth. Her nose was sharp and hawk like, but her eyes... her eyes were dark and hard just like the picture.

I bowed my head in respect, keeping my eyes low as she looked me over with her judging ones.

"How dare you summon me." There was a bite to her sultry voice.

I found myself almost cowering. "Lady Karma, I beseech you. Please, grant me good Karma. I need it to get in my mother's good graces. I am too much of a fuck up. Please, show me mercy."

Karma stepped forward to face me. Her tall frame looked down on me. I didn't dare look up, but I could see her shadow on me. She pinched my chin in her fingers and forced me to look up at her. Her dark eyes crackled with anger.

"How dare you, of all people, ask that! You already have the best Karma. All your negatives are already shifted to another and now you want more. That's not good enough for you fracture?" She removed her fingers from my chin.

My voice caught in my throat. I already had good karma? Did I? It didn't feel like it. I felt like I couldn't get anything right. "I'm sorry. I just thought-"

The resounding slap echoed through the trees as Karma's hand connected with my cheek. It hurt more than when Mother did it. I hung my head. I could feel the hot outline as tears stung my eyes. I did my best to keep them in. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't trying to offend her. She was certainly the last goddess in all the realms that I would ever want to offend.

I did the only thing I could think of. I dropped to my knees and threw myself at her feet. "Forgive me, Great One. I am a fool. I didn't realize the gifts you had already bestowed on me. Please accept these gifts as my adoration of you. I thank you for the blessing you have bestowed on me. I value it greatly."

"Hmph," Karma scoffed. She stepped forward onto my fingers. She ground the toe of her shoe into my hand. "Don't you dare summon me again. If I didn't already have an agreement with your mother, I would rain my wrath upon you." She paused as she looked down at me. "But you're not even worth it. You half-souled piece of dirt. No, wait. That's an insult to dirt. At least dirt is useful."

She stepped back off my hand. "Get up. You're going to make this up to me. I have a job for you. And you'd better not fuck it up."

I scrambled to my feet. I kept my head low, but I tried my best to read her expressions. It was the easiest way for me to read what a person really meant.

Her dark eyes scared me. They were full of power and vengeance. I'd never seen anyone with so much hate in their soul before.

"What can I assist you with, Blessed Karma? I would give my life to you." And I really would. Karma dictated everyone's life. This was one force of nature I really didn't want pissed off at me. I really did make a grave mistake.

The last sentence seemed to lighten her mood a little. "I need you to use your unique..." She looked me up and down, "Soul... to fetch me something from a different realm."

"Yes, Goddess. I will find whatever you seek." I would do anything not to have her mad at me.

"Where's your guardian angel? You'll need him for this quest." She snapped her fingers and Angandriel popped in right next to me.

His eyes widen in surprise as he looked at Karma and then at me. His eyes narrowed. I ignored him and kept my eyes on Karma.

"Angel, take her to the Sunrise Realm. Bring me the Aurora Sword."

When I didn't respond, she tilted her head down into my line of sight. She snapped her fingers. "Now. Do it."

I nodded curtly. I snatched up Angandriel's hand and squeezed it. "Please?" I whispered.

"What have you gotten yourself into?" He murmured.

He pulled me into a hug then launched off the ground into the air. His white feathered wings sprouted from his back. He flapped them hard and we started to climb. The trees grew smaller and then we were flying fast. I could barely make out the trees, cities, and land flying below us as we sped onward. We flew through several barriers. The sun changed colors multiple times. The land morphed into dark, then light, then clouds. He slowed then we finally eased down on to a clouded platform.

The air pressure pushed the clouds away from us in swirls revealing white sand beneath. The golden sun in this realm was hard to look at, but it made everything glow like sunset and sunrise always seemed to back on Earth.

"What the Heaven is going on?" Angandriel grumbled at me.

"I might have pissed off Karma a little bit." I pushed back out of his hold.

"And, why on Earth, would you ever want to do that?"

"I was just trying to make my mother happy. I didn't realize she'd already done it for me." I stopped walking in a circle and looked up at him. "If it's true, why am I such a fuck up?"

His face softened. "I really can't say."

I dropped my eyes away from him. "So, now I have to make it right. I really don't want Karma mad at me."

"Yeah, you really don't."

"So, you'll help me find this sword?" I glanced up sheepishly.

He nodded.

I couldn't help but grin. Angandriel and I had a very sensitive relationship. Usually all he did was grumble at me while he saved me then disappear. At least Remi snapped back at me occasionally. But Angandriel's relationship really wasn't the best.

I shielded my eyes as I looked out over the clouded area. "Where do you think the sword is?"

He frowned. "This is your quest."

"Really?"

"I can't interfere."

"It's always the same line with you two."